If you are moving to a new home and have a number of large appliances that need to be moved, this article is for you. Large appliances do not come cheap so you want to do everything possible to ensure they arrive unscathed and in proper working order. As you will discover below, you can move all your appliances without too much trouble simply by following a few guidelines.
For the dishwasher, make sure it is clean and dry, inside and outside. Then, disconnect and drain the hoses. To ensure everything dries completely, we suggest you keep the door open for three to four days. Then, the hoses should be wrapped up in old towels. Additionally, use heavy-duty packing paper to help insulate the inside of the dishwasher so in transit, nothing is jostled about.
For your washing machine, you again want to make sure it is clean and dry, and that the hoses are disconnected and drained. Start by wrapping the metal connector ends of the hoses in an old towel, placing them inside the machine. Next, the tub should be secure according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you are not sure what this process is, simply contact the maker of the washing machine for instruction.
For the dryer, clean it inside and out, unplug the electrical cords, and clean out the lint screen. With the dryer wrapped in protective blankets for the move, once at the new home, we strongly suggest you have the power supply checked before plugging the dryer in to make sure it is appropriate. If the dryer were gas, a qualified technician would need to disconnect the gas line, capping it off. Then once at the new home, you again want to hire a professional to reconnect it.
If you have decided to take your stove/oven, again start by completely cleaning the inside and outside. Next, any removable parts should be disconnected and placed in a plastic Ziploc bag, marked with the contents. For this, you could then use secure tape to attach the bag to the inside of the broiler section so the parts do not get lost. For a gas stove/oven, have it disconnected by a qualified technician, securing the gas line as well. Upon arrival, a technician should reconnect the stove/oven, lighting the pilot light and operating the unit to make sure everything is 100% safe.
Finally, for a refrigerator and/or freezer, you will need to empty them out, clean them on the inside and outside, and then make sure the appliances are completely dry. Make sure all the shelves, drawers, and other parts on the inside are 100% dry to avoid problems with mildew. Any loose parts such as the bulb, knobs, removable shelving, and drawers should be removed and placed in a secure container clearly marked. Next, vacuum the condenser or compressor, empty, clean, and dry, the evaporator pan, and then prior to moving, shut off any water for the icemaker, disconnecting the water line. Just make sure the water reservoir is emptied as well or you will have a mess on your hands.